Traveling to Ethiopia takes 20 hours but you only need to come down to South Fairfax Avenue to experience Little Ethiopia. Messob has been bringing authentic Ethiopian cuisine and culture to LA since 1985.
The African spices dress up various chicken, beef and lamb dishes that are served with injera bread. Our menu boasts a great vegan selection.
Finish off your meal with authentic Ethiopian coffee. Coffee is Ethiopia's main export and it is from Ethiopia that the beverage first spread to the rest of the world. We also serve Ethiopian beer and wine.
Try Gursha, the Ethiopian cultural practice of hand feeding your dinner companion, a gesture of affection. Gursha is exchanged between husband and wife and among relatives and friends. Bring your date to Messob and treat him or her to Gursha.
Easy parking family and group friendly, private parties and catering available
Tips
What to Drink
The restaurant serves a range of beer and Ethiopian honey wine, but not hard liquor.
Where to Sit
The hut-like set up in the front window with traditional mesob tables is great for small groups of four or five, or can be combined for a larger group of 10. Reservations are recommended for groups of five or more.
Look Good
As a tradition, the restaurant suggests that before you take your first bite, you feed one to someone else at your table.
The Extras
Gift certificates are available for purchase at the cashier.
Customer Reviews
the best piece of sh!t in la Reviewed by maaaason on
2009-02-15T22:01:56Z
This was the worst dining experience of my life - a real sin. First, we were shuffled out of the cute, cozy dining area into a drafty room in the back of the restaurant. The walls were yellow, cracked and peeling. There were tears in the tablecloths. The room wasn't even arranged symmetrically - the chairs were scattered haphazard among tables. The lights were yellow. We waited exactly 58 minutes from when were ordered to be served our food. During this time, a man lurked around, handing out napkins and assuring us our food would arrive in a few minutes. He gave us a free appetizer when we "reached" the 45 minutes mark. The appetizer was really good, but the rest of the food was disgusting. The chicken looked like it was coated in plastic; it was all slick, stringy pink-in-spots dark meat. The vegetable dish consisted of boiled cabbage. After a few bites, everything was nauseating - it was like a zesty swamp. It was such an awful dining experience we found it hilarious. Although we left, feeling sick, and still unsatiated. This restaurant is a piece of sh!t.
Pros: free appetizer to compensate for hour wait
Cons: everything else
Great food, good value Reviewed by valifornia on
2009-01-31T18:40:39Z
We've been here a couple of times and we've always liked it. We went again last night. The food does not disappoint -- particularly the lentils. The service is friendly, albeit a bit slow at times. We'll definitely go back. The only thing to warn about is some of the lower tables in the center of the restaurant have proportionally low chairs, which may be uncomfortable for people with back problems.
Pros: Great food, good prices
Cons: Slightly slow service, low tables in the middle of the restaurant
Great Food and Coffee Reviewed by dawn826 on
2008-08-13T15:40:05Z
My friends and I go out to dinner every month and pick a different restaurant. This month was Messob. We arrived at 6 PM on July 30. There were only a few people in the restaruant but when we left it was full. I wanted to try Ethiopian food. We ordered the meat and vegetable platter. Though I did not like one or two items on the platter overall the food was delicious and the service was good. The owner came over and spoke to us twice. I really love it when the owner or chef comes to the table. A restaurant goes up a few notches in my book when that happens. It shows they care. We ordered the coffee. They give you a great deal of coffee and it was the BEST coffee I have ever tasted.. Better than any of those coffee places that you find on every corner. So, if you are a coffee nut you NEED to go.
